Eleven Todd & Weld attorneys recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
Eleven Todd & Weld attorneys are recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
Recognition in Ones to Watch is based entirely on peer review and employs the same methodology used for Best Lawyers lists which were first published in 1983. The 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes 26,916 lawyers across the U.S. in 79 practice areas.
Attorneys listed in Ones to Watch have been in private practice typically for five to 10 years and are recognized for outstanding professional excellence.
The Todd & Weld attorneys listed in 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are:
- Madison Bader (Commercial Litigation)
- Hannah Black (Criminal Defense: General Practice)
- Lauren M. Bussey (Family Law)
- Svana M. Calabro (Family Law)
- Widmaier M. Charles (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Real Estate)
- Gabrielle L. Denby (Family Law; Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation)
- William E. Gildea (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Construction; Personal Injury Litigation – Defense)
- Christian G. Kiely (Criminal Defense: White Collar)
- Lucia A. Passanisi (Litigation – Labor and Employment)
- Megan L. Rothemich (Family Law)
- Julianna Zane (Family Law)
Ms. Bader represents clients in all phases of litigation, with a focus on business disputes and white-collar criminal defense. Active in the legal community, Ms. Bader serves as President of the Federal Bar Association’s national Criminal Law Section, is Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association's New Lawyers Forum, and is a member of the Boston Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section.
Ms. Black concentrates her practice on government investigations and criminal defense, including defending clients at trial and in pre-indictment government investigations. She also represents medical professionals and institutions in various health law matters. Prior to joining Todd & Weld, Ms. Black was an Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.
Ms. Bussey represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, modification, child custody and parenting plans, asset divisions, and prenuptial agreements. She counsels clients through all phases of family law litigation, including negotiating separation agreements, and regularly appears on their behalf in court.
Ms. Calabro concentrates her practice on all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, prenuptial agreements, and asset division. She guides clients through the challenges of family law litigation by arguing on their behalf in evidentiary and other court hearings, conducting pre-trial discovery, and negotiating settlements.
Mr. Charles concentrates his litigation practice on complex business disputes and real estate matters. He represents clients in all phases of litigation and arbitration, including drafting pleadings, managing pre-trial discovery, handling motions, and arguing at trial. Mr. Charles also represents clients in matters involving government investigations and white-collar criminal defense.
Ms. Denby is a seasoned family law practitioner delivering exceptional guidance to her clients. She handles all aspects of domestic relations law, including divorce, child custody, alimony, and complex financial issues in high asset divorce matters. Prior to joining Todd & Weld, Ms. Denby maintained her own family law practice.
Mr. Gildea concentrates his civil litigation practice on representing clients in a wide variety of disputes across multiple industries. A seasoned litigator, he has represented individuals, corporations, manufacturers, long-term care facilities, and insurers in a wide range of matters, including employment discrimination, catastrophic torts, professional malpractice, and contract disputes.
Mr. Kiely concentrates his practice on business litigation, representing companies and individuals in a wide range of disputes. He also represents clients in matters involving First Amendment law and defamation, government investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. He regularly appears in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels.
Ms. Passanisi concentrates her practice on employment litigation, representing employers and individuals in various matters including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and wage and hour laws. She regularly appears in court, conducts depositions, prepares pleadings, and negotiates settlements.
Ms. Rothemich concentrates her practice on all aspects of family law, including multifaceted divorce cases involving asset division, issues of child support and alimony, and custody disputes. She collaborates with experts for varied purposes, including business valuation, forensic analysis of financial information, tax scrutiny, and psychological evaluations and opinions.
Ms. Zane focuses her practice on all aspects of family law, including divorce, high-level asset division, high-conflict custody matters, child support and alimony, paternity, modification, and contempt actions. Her practice includes courtroom advocacy, litigation, and resolving cases outside of court through alternative dispute resolution programs such as conciliation and mediation.